For Internet users, who had voted in 2003 on NBA.com, it is the most beautiful contest in history and no doubt that it remains on the podium with the triumph of Vince Carter in 2000 and the duel between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon in 2016. Even today, 34 years later to the day, some believe that Dominique Wilkins was robbed of victory, including two judges close to Chicago.
We are February 6, 1988, in Chicago, and inevitably the public is 200% behind Michael Jordan. The Bulls star defends his title won in Seattle the previous year. Facing him, the most powerful of the dunkeurs, and this duel will indeed be an opposition of styles.
“There was electricity in the air”, remembers Dominique Wilkins. “There were some of the best dunkers in history in the same contest. People had arrived very early to see this. It was very intense. “
On the one hand, power and explosiveness. On the other, “hang time” and grace. Wilkins got twice 50 on his first two dunks, and he’s on the way to the title. But on the last dunk, a two-handed windmill, he only gets 45. Amazement among the players, and even at Jordan who thought that his rival would get a “49 or a 50”.
“On my last one, I thought it was worth 50”, will tell Dominique Wilkins. “He was better than my first two dunks and I had 50 on each. When I saw “45”, I was blown away. We can say that Michael took advantage of a little home arbitration…”
“If it hadn’t been for Chicago, it could have turned out differently”
In front of his audience, Michael Jordan can therefore still impose himself, and for his 3rd and last dunk, he must at least achieve a 48 to equal Dominique Wilkins’ total, and therefore 49 to win.
He crosses the gaze of Julius Erving, present in the front rows. His idol tells him to go to the other side of the field, and do like him, a dunk from the free throw line. A man of challenge, Michael Jordan runs and almost takes call from the free throw line for an image that will remain in posterity…
He obtains the maximum score (50) and achieves the double. Despite the loss of his trophy in complicated conditions, Wilkins will remain fair: “When you face someone who plays at home, it’s always hard. But Jordan did some great dunks, we have to admit. If someone was going to beat me, I preferred it to be him. “
Michael Jordan will also recognize that the fact of competing in front of his public had changed a lot of things…
“I was shocked seeing 45 for his last dunk. I put him 49 or 50 “, will confess “His Airness”. “I feel like if it hadn’t been for Chicago, it might have turned out differently. “
